Area residents among 22 to enter guilty pleas

Monday, November 29, 2010

By AL DIETZ tneditor@tnonline.com

Five area men, including three from Tamaqua, and three area women were among 22 people who entered guilty pleas to criminal charges in Schuylkill County court and were sentenced by President Judge William E. Baldwin.

Drew Daniel Labor, 22, of10 1/2 S. Greenwood St., Tamaqua, on a charge of theft from a private home, was sentenced to serve one to 24 months in a state correctional institution to be served in the aggregate with a sentence of three to 12 months imposed last February for illegal drugs. He also must make restitution of $123.99 to Danielle and Michelle Labor, the victims. Labor was cited by Tamaqua Patrolman Karl Harig, last May 27.

Jeremy Earl Plasko, 33, of 301 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, theft, was sentenced to serve 12 to 24 months in a state correctional institution with credit for serving 114 days. He has to pay $50 to Criminal Justice Enhancement Account (CJEA). Plasko was cited by Tamaqua Patrolman Thomas Duarte, last Aug. 2 charging he took a vehicle owned by William Edmondson.

Ali Lasanta Walton, 21, of 12 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, on charge of theft of a cell phone, was given credit for having served 105 days in the county prison and was released on parole for 12 months. Walton was also held in contempt of court for failing to appear on time for his scheduled guilty plea and was fined $100 by Baldwin. Walton was cited by Tamaqua Patrolman Karl Harig II, last May13 and charged with taking the cell phone of Jill Caton.

Carl Rex Jr., 35, of 696 Spruce St., New Ringgold, on a charge of criminal mischief to a tavern door, was given credit for serving 125 days in the county prison and released on parole for 23 months, pay a $50 bench warrant fee to the district attorney, and make restitution of $2,144 to Scores Pub, Clamtown Road, West Penn Township. Rex was cited by township Chief Brian Johnson, on April 6, 2009.

Christopher Roger Link, 22, of 41 W. Ridge St., Lansford, on a charge of a person not to possess a firearm was sentenced to serve 18 to 36 months in a state correctional institution, pay $100 to SAE fund and make restitution of $1,984.01 to Motorist Insurance Company. On charges of criminal conspiracy and burglary was given concurrent sentences of nine to 18 months confinement and on charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia received concurring sentences of 12 months probation. Link was cited by Coaldale Patrolman Scott Cramer, last July 28.

Tiffany Marie Bright, 29, of 322 Clark St., Tamaqua, on a charge of forgery was given credit for having served 65 days in the county prison and released on parole for 12 months, and pay $50 to CJEA. Bright was cited by Tamaqua Patrolman Anthony Stanell, on March 13, 2008 for forging a prescription for drugs.

Joan Marie Mertz, 49, of 2 Grier Avenue, Barnesville, defiant trespass in neighbor's apartment, placed on probation 12 months, pay $50 to CJEA, and have no contact with victim. On a charge of harassment was fined $25 and costs. Mertz was cited by Rush Township Patrolman Brian Thompson, last May 26.

Lezzette I. Torres, 43, of 601 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (CS) at her residence, was given credit for serving 249 days in the county prison and released on parole for 23 months, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, and $176 to Bethlehem Regional Lab. Torres was cited by Mahanoy City Patrolman Jonathan McHugh, last March 19.

Michael Allen Kissinger, 22, Pottsville, on charges of corruption of minors by furnishing alcoholic beverages, theft of property and intimidation of witnesses, was sentenced to serve 11 1/2 to 23 months in a state correctional institution and when released to serve an additional 24 months on probation. He received credit for serving 144 days in the county prison. He also must pay $4,000 in fines for furnishing alcohol to minors and make restitution of $100 to Buy Me Again Store, Pottsville, where he pawned a property he leased from Rent-A-Center, Pottsville. He also shall have no contact with the victims.

Ricky Walter Yoder, 49, Cressona, on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) was placed in the Immediate Punishment Program (IPP) to serve six months under strict probation, pay a fine of $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $100 to Catastrophe fund, complete alcohol highway safety school, undergo intensive outpatient counseling and driver's license suspended 12 months. On a charge of driving while his operating privileges were suspended was fined $50 and placed under house arrest for 60 days with electronic monitoring and for disregarding a traffic lane was fined $25 plus $63.50 in costs. Yoder was cited by Trooper Kurt S. Salak last Feb. 19 on Cressona Road in North Manheim Township.

William Henry Clark, 48, Pine Grove, DUI, serve 30 days in county prison and when released placed in IPP for four years and 11 months under strict probation, pay a fine of $1,500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $100 to Catastrophe fund, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, complete intensive outpatient counseling, submit to full drug and alcohol assessment and license suspended 18 months and when restored for 12 months must have a ignition interlock system installed in his car. On charges of failing to yield to an oncoming emergency vehicle and rear lights not working was fined $50 plus $127 costs. Clark was cited by Pine Grove Sgt. Jeffrey Futchko, last March 28.

Percy David Carl, 63, Hegins, DUI, placed in IPP under six months of strict probation, pay a fine of $500, $100 to SAE fund, $50 to Catastrophe fund, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, and license suspended 12 months. On charges of disregarding a traffic lane and failing to drive at safe speed fined $50 plus $127 costs. Carl was cited by Trooper John Carr last March 21 following a one car accident on Main Street, Hegins.

Hunter Glen Motley, 19, Pottsville, DUI, serve 30 days to six months in county prison and on a second DUI charge was placed in IPP for six months strict probation which begins at the expiration of the first sentence. He also was ordered to pay a total of $1,500 in fines, $400 to SAE fund, $150 to Catastrophe fund, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, receive outpatient counseling and license suspended 12 months. His sentence begins Nov. 29 at 9 a.m. Motley was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Brian Kotzmoyer, Pottsville Police, last April 18 and by Patrolman Joseph Welsh, last December 24. On a charge of a driver required to be licensed he was fined $200 and for failing to have proper lighting on his car fined $25 plus $127 costs.

Seamus E. J. Loughran, 53, Pottsville, DUI, serve 30 days in county prison followed by four years and 11 months on strict probation in IPP, pay a fine of $1,500, $100 to SAE fund, $100 to Catastrophe fund, undergo outpatient counseling, submit to radom urine tests, license suspended 18 months and when resumed to drive place ignition interlock on car for 12 months. On charges of failing to keep on right side of road was fined $25 plus $50 costs and reckless driving, fined $200 plus $84.50 costs. Received credit for serving seven days in prison. Loughran was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Brian Reno, last March 12..

Latosha Shantane Watkins, 30, Pottsville, DUI of alcohol and drugs, serve 30 days in county prison followed by four years and 11 months on strict probation in IPP, pay a fine of $1,500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $100 to Catastrophe fund, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, complete outpatient counseling, submit to radom drug screenings and license suspended 18 months. On a charge of careless driving fined $25 plus $63.50 costs. Watkins was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Richard J. Pugh.

Debra Jean Fidler, 55, Pine Grove, second DUI, serve 72 hours to six months in county prison beginning Nov. 26 at 9 a.m., pay a fine of $1,000, pay $300 to SAE fund, $50 to Catastrophe fund, and $50 to CJEA. On a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia must serve an additional 12 months on probation. Fidler was cited by Sgt. Scott E. Taylor, of the county sheriff's office, when stopped last April 30 in Pottsville.

Angelique Carol Ford, 19, Reading, possession with intent to deliver a CS in Pottsville last December, sentenced to serve three to 12 months in county prison with credit for serving 37 days, and pay $50 to CJEA. Ford was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Renee Galle, last Dec. 2.

Michelle Lynn Davis, 36, Pottsville, criminal trespass, given credit for serving 41 days in county prison and released on parole for 18 months, and have no contact with the victim. She received a concurring 12 months probation sentence on a disorderly conduct charge. Davis was cited bu Pottsville Patrolman Kirk Becker, last Aug. 7.

Jennifer A. Hummel, 30, Pottsville, delivery of a CS in Minersville, sentenced to serve 11 1/2 to 23 months in county prison with credit for serving 168 days, pay $100 to SAE fund, $75 to Minesville police and $176 to Bethlehem Regional Lab. She received concurring sentences of nine to 18 months confinement on a second charge of delivery and criminal conspiracy. Hummel was cited by Minersville Patrolman Thomas Hoban, last Feb. 18.

Carol Ann Evitts, 44, Minersville, possession of drug paraphernalia, placed on probation for 12 months to begin when her sentence of 23 months, which was imposed by Baldwin last August expires. She also must pay $100 to SAE fund, and $50 to CJEA. Evitts was cited by Minersville Patrolman Jeffrey R. Bowers, last April 13.

Curtis W. Sargent, 19, Pottsville, burglary of a privarte home, sentenced to serve one to two years in a state correctional institution with credit of 118 days served in the county prison, pay $50 to CJEA, $95 to Towne Drugs Store and $600 to Bethlehem Regional Lab. On a charge of possession of an instrument of crime was given a concurrent 12 months probation sentence. Sargent was cited by Patrolman Brian Pyle, Branch/Reilly Townships Police, and charged with entering the home of Henry Bertasavage, 42 Brickley Road, and removing four long guns and six handguns.

Each defendant must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.